Image data processing system

ABSTRACT

In a system having a server and a client apparatus, the client apparatus edits image data by using a representative image of the image data stored in the server, generates play list data indicating the order of reproducing the image data, in accordance with the editing results, and the server stores the image data sent from the client apparatus, reproduces the stored image data in accordance with the play list data sent from the client, and transmits the reproduced image data to the server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an image data processing system,and more particularly to a system for processing image data via atransmission path such as a network.

[0003] 2. Related Background Art

[0004] In a conventional image data editing process, image data isgenerally stored in a local area of an editing apparatus to beprocessed. For example, in the image editing process by a personalcomputer (PC), image data stored in a hard disk of PC is generallyprocessed.

[0005] Similar image processing is performed not only by a generalapparatus such as PC but also by an image photographing apparatus suchas a digital camera, a digital video camera and the like. For example,when image editing is performed with a digital camera having an imageediting function, image data stored in a recording medium of the digitalcamera is processed.

[0006] As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.2002-51241, image data is uploaded to a server on a network to manageit, while the image data is not managed in a local recording area.

[0007] It is very serious to edit moving images with an apparatus havinga relatively low processing ability such as a digital camera. Therefore,the image editing by the digital camera is limited to a simple processso that it is difficult to realize complicated image editing from theviewpoint of performance and cost.

[0008] As described in the above-cited Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2002-51241, if photographed image data uploaded to theserver is managed and when the image data at the server is required tobe edited, it is necessary to download the image data once into a localrecording area before editing it. The downloaded image data isthereafter edited, and it is therefore necessary to upload the editedimage data back to the server. Even if the image data at the server isrequired only to be looked at, it is basically necessary to download animage file.

[0009] Moving image data in particular cannot be reproduced until it iscompletely downloaded.

[0010] An image recording system has been proposed recently in which awireless network function is added to a digital camera and photographedimage data is automatically transmitted to the server without storing itin the digital camera.

[0011] In such a system, since image data is not left stored on arecording medium of the digital camera, it is very difficult to editimage data by using the digital camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to solve the aboveproblems.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to realize anediting process using complicated imaging effects even for an apparatushaving no highly sophisticated image processing ability such as adigital camera.

[0014] In order to achieve the above objects, according to an aspect ofthe present invention, an image processing system of the presentinvention, for processing image data between a server and a clientapparatus, is arranged so that the client apparatus comprises:communication processing means for transmitting the image data to theserver via a transmission path to make the image data be stored in theserver and receiving the image data from the server; and control meansfor generating play list data representative of an order of reproducingthe image data, by using representative image data representative of anrepresentative image of the image data, and transmitting the play listdata to the server via the communication processing means, and theserver comprises a transceiver unit for receiving the image data and theplay list data transmitted from the client apparatus, a generation unitfor generating the representative image data representative of therepresentative image of the received image data and a storage unit forstoring the received image data and the representative image data,wherein in response to an instruction from the client apparatus, theserver transmits the generated representative image data to the clientapparatus, reproduces the image data stored in the storage unit inaccordance with the received play list data, and transmits thereproduced image data to the client apparatus.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of embodimentstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an imagephotographing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system to whichthe present invention is applied.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating communication between an imageprocessing apparatus and a server.

[0019]FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are diagrams illustrating editing windows.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of a server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] In one embodiment, an image photographing apparatus having acommunication means for communication with a wireless base station as ameans for establishing communication between a server and the imagephotographing apparatus will be described. The image photographingapparatus itself may not have a communication means, but a portableterminal capable of communicating with a wireless base station isconnected to the image photographing apparatus to communicate with thewireless base station. In this embodiment, although the wireless basestation for portable terminals is used, other wireless technologies mayalso be used. For example, wireless local area networks (LAN), Bluetoothor the like may also be used.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outline of the whole imageprocessing system to which the present invention is applied.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the system of this embodiment is constitutedof an image photographing apparatus 210, a wireless base station 220,the Internet 230 and a server 240. The image photographing apparatus 210and wireless base station 220 are interconnected through radiocommunication. The wireless base station 220 and server 240 areinterconnected by a data communication network 230 such as the Internet.

[0025] A data communication process using a portable terminal will bedescribed briefly.

[0026] A portable terminal frequently communicates with a nearbywireless base station even if it is not in a speech mode. During thiscommunication, an identification signal of the portable terminal istransmitted to the wireless base station. In this manner, it is possibleto obtain corresponding between a plurality of distributed wireless basestations and a plurality of portable terminals, and this correspondenceinformation is registered in a managing station which manages all thewireless base stations. With this configuration, for example, when aportable terminal is to be called from another portable terminal, themanaging station searches a nearby wireless base station in accordancewith the identification signal of the other portable terminal andconnects a line to the searched wireless base station to allow speech.Since each portable terminal is related to the nearby wireless basestation, the position of the portable terminal can be known from theposition of the wireless base station. The portable terminal ispresently used not only for speech but also various informationcommunications.

[0027] The image photographing apparatus 210 of this embodiment has abuilt-in portable terminal, and can transmit and receive various typesof data by using the wireless base stations for portable terminals.

[0028] With this configuration, when the image photographing apparatus210 photographs an image, the image data is transmitted to the server240.

[0029] If the image data cannot be transmitted when the image isphotographed, the photographed image data is once stored in a recordingmedium mounted on the image photographing apparatus 210, and when theimage data transmission enable state is recovered, the image data istransmitted to the server 240. Thereafter, the image photographingapparatus 210 deletes the image data already transmitted from therecording medium.

[0030] When the server 240 receives the image data from the imagephotographing apparatus 210, the server 240 generates thumbnail imagedata representative of the received image data, and stores the imagedata and thumbnail data in one-to-one correspondence in a storage unitbuilt-in the server.

[0031] When the image is to be edited by the image photographingapparatus 210, all the thumbnail image data stored in the server 240 isdownloaded and a list of thumbnail images is displayed and shown to auser.

[0032] By referring to the displayed thumbnail image list, the userperforms play list editing by setting a reproduction order of aplurality of images, the display effects at the time of reproduction andthe like. Play list data is the data describing the reproduction orderof image data and is generated by using metadata added to the thumbnailimage or the like. The format of the play list may be a general one suchas Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) or may be aspecial format.

[0033] In response to the completion of play list editing, the generatedplay list data is transmitted from the image photographing apparatus 210to the server 240 which stores it. After the play list data is stored inthe server 240, the play list data is displayed in the thumbnail list,similar to other image data stored in the server.

[0034] After the image photographing apparatus 210 selects the thumbnailimage from the displayed thumbnail list for reproduction purposes, theimage photographing apparatus 210 transmits a reproduction instructionof the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image to theserver 240, and the server 240 reproduces the selected image data andtransmits it to the image photographing apparatus 210.

[0035] When the image photographing apparatus 210 instructs thereproduction of play list data, it transmits a start instruction ofreproduction following the play list to the server 240. In accordancewith the contents of the play list data, the server 240 reproduces theimage data stored in the storage unit and transmits it to the imagephotographing apparatus 210 to allow the image photographing apparatusto reproduce and display the image data matching the play list.

[0036]FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a photographing and editingprocess to be executed between the image photographing apparatus 210 andserver 240. This flow chart pays attention to the data exchange betweenthe image photographing apparatus 210 and server 240 so thatcommunication means and the like are shown omitted.

[0037] First, after an image is photographed with the imagephotographing apparatus 210, the photographed image data is transmittedto the server 240. This process is Step S301.

[0038] Upon reception of the image data, the server 240 stores thereceived image data along with the additional information such as itsfile name (identification information), generates thumbnail image dataof the received image data, and stores it with reference to the receivedoriginal image data. In this case, if the original image data is data ofa still image, the still image is subjected to a reduction process togenerate the thumbnail image data, whereas if the original image data isdata of a moving image, image data of the start frame is subjected to areduction process to generate the thumbnail image data. Metadata such asa file name (identification information) of the original image data fromwhich the thumbnail image data was generated, a moving image recordingtime and image size information is added to the thumbnail image data andstored. These processes are Steps S302 and S303.

[0039] Steps S301 to S303 are the processes to be executed each time thephotographing apparatus 210 photographs an image.

[0040] Next, in order to edit an image photographed with the imagephotographing apparatus 210, a user sets an editing mode of the imagephotographing apparatus. Upon instruction of the editing mode, the imagephotographing apparatus 210 sends a thumbnail image acquisition requestto the server 240 in order to display the thumbnail image list of imagesphotographed with the image photographing apparatus 210. This process isStep S304.

[0041] Upon reception of the thumbnail image acquisition request, theserver 240 sends the thumbnail image data of all image data stored andthe thumbnail image data of the play list data to the imagephotographing apparatus 210. This process is Step S305. At this time,additional information of each thumbnail image data is also transmitted.

[0042] Upon reception of the thumbnail image data, the imagephotographing apparatus 210 displays the thumbnail image list. Thisprocess is Step S306.

[0043] By referring to the displayed thumbnail images, a user edits theimage. The image editing results are stored in the image photographingapparatus 210 as play list data. Particular examples of the screenlayout and an operation method for image editing will be laterdescribed.

[0044] When the image editing operation is completed, the imagephotographing apparatus 210 transmits the play list data as the editingresults to the server 240. This process is Step S307.

[0045] Upon reception of the play list data, the server 240 stores theplay list data along with the additional information such asidentification information in the built-in storage unit, and generatesthe thumbnail image data of the play list data. Specifically, thecontents of the received play list data are checked, and one frame ofimage data designated as the first of the reproduction order is used asthe thumbnail image data. These processes are Steps S308 and S309.

[0046] In case that the image data and the play list as the editingresults stored in the server are to be reproduced after the imagephotographing apparatus 210 transmits the play list data to the server240, the image photographing apparatus 210 sends the thumbnail imageacquisition request to the server 240. This process is Step S310.

[0047] Upon reception of the thumbnail image acquisition request, theserver 240 sends the thumbnail image data of all image data and playlist data stored in the server 240 to the image photographing apparatus210. This process is Step S311.

[0048] Upon reception of the thumbnail image data, the imagephotographing apparatus 210 displays the thumbnail image list. Thisprocess is Step S312.

[0049] After the image photographing apparatus 210 selects a desiredthumbnail image from the displayed thumbnail list for reproductionpurposes, the image photographing apparatus 210 sends to the server 240a reproduction command and the identification information of theoriginal image data corresponding to the designated thumbnail image orthe identification information of the play list data. This process isStep S313.

[0050] Upon reception of the reproduction command and identificationinformation of the image data, the server 240 selects the designateddata from a number of stored image data files and stored play list datafiles, in accordance with the identification information, and reproducesthe image data in accordance with the reproduction command. For example,if the thumbnail image of image data is designated, image datacorresponding to the designated thumbnail image is reproduced.

[0051] If the thumbnail image of a play list is designated, the serverreproduces the play list data corresponding to the identificationinformation of the play list data corresponding to the designatedthumbnail image. The contents of the play list data are checked and thestored image data is reproduced in accordance with the proceduredesignated in the play list. This process is Step S314.

[0052] After the image data corresponding to the designated thumbnailimage is reproduced, the server 240 transmits it to the imagephotographing apparatus 210. This process is Step S315.

[0053] Upon reception of the image data transmitted from the server 240,the image photographing apparatus 210 displays the image data. Thisprocess is Step S316.

[0054] By executing the above-described processes, it is possible toedit and reproduce photographed images even if the image data is notstored in the image photographing apparatus 210. Since the actualreproduction process is performed by the server in accordance with theimage editing results, the image photographing apparatus is not requiredto have a high image processing ability, for example, even in case thata sophisticated effect process is to be performed.

[0055] Further, since the editing results are stored in the server 240as the play list data, even another portable terminal different from theimage photographing apparatus 210 can confirm the editing results of theimage data stored in the server 240, by connecting to the server 240 viathe network 220, downloading the thumbnail image of the play list asdescribed with reference to FIG. 3, and thereafter instructing thereproduction of the play list.

[0056] Therefore, for example, in case that the editing results ofphotographed images at an event such as a wedding ceremony are to bepublicized to other users, the reproduced images of the similar editingresults can be acquired independently from the ability of portableterminals possessed by other users.

[0057] Next, the internal structure and operation of the imagephotographing apparatus 210 will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagramshowing the structure of the image photographing apparatus 210.

[0058] In FIG. 1, an image pickup unit 101 converts an optical image ofan object into an electrical signal, performs various necessaryprocesses and outputs the results. An encoder 102 compression-encodesthe image data supplied from the image pickup unit 101, by using theMPEG scheme or the like. A recording and reproducing unit 103 recordsand reproduces encoded image data onto and from a recording medium M. Inthis embodiment, the recording medium is a random accessible recordingmedium such as a disc medium and a memory card.

[0059] A decoder 104 decodes the image data reproduced by the recordingand reproducing unit 103 or image data received by a communicationprocessing unit 109, and expands the information amount of the decodedimage data. A display unit 105 displays an image of the image datasupplied from the image pickup unit 101, decoder 104 and a displaypicture generation unit 106, in accordance with an instruction from asystem controller 107. The system controller 107 controls the operationof each unit in accordance with an instruction from an operation unit108, and generates the play list data as will be described later, thesystem controller having a microcomputer. The operation unit 108 is madeof an operation panel, a remote controller and the like. Thecommunication processing unit 109 transmits and receives image andvarious commands via a transmission path. In this embodiment,communications are performed mainly with the server 240 shown in FIG. 2.

[0060] The image pickup unit 101 converts an optical image of an objectinto an electrical signal, converts the electrical signal into a digitalsignal, performs various necessary processes on the digital signal, andsupplies the results to the encoder 102 and display unit 105. Uponreception of a record instruction command from the system controller107, the encoder 102 encodes the digital image data, compresses its dataamount, and transmits the encoded image data to the communicationprocessing unit 109. However, in the state that data cannot betransmitted or in the state that the image data transmission process isdelayed, the encoder outputs the encoded image data to the recording andreproducing unit 103 to once store it in the recording medium M. If thetransmission enable state is recovered thereafter, the system controller107 controls the recording and reproducing unit 103 to read the imagedata stored in the recording medium M and transmit it to thecommunication processing unit 109 and to the server 240. In thisembodiment, the encoder 102 compresses the still image data by the JPEGscheme and the moving image data by the MPEG scheme.

[0061] The communication processing unit 109 communicates with awireless base station to transfer and receive data to and from thewireless base station. For example, if image data is received from theencoder 102 or recording and reproducing unit 103, the image data istransmitted, whereas if the data transmission command is received fromthe system controller 107, the data corresponding to the command istransmitted.

[0062] If data such as a command is received from the wireless basestation, the communication processing unit 109 transmits the receiveddata to the system controller 107, whereas if the image data isreceived, it is output to the decoder 104.

[0063] A user manipulates the operation unit 108 to instruct a recordstart and a record stop, edit in accordance with the play list, and thelike. The operation unit 108 sends an operation instruction command tothe system controller 107 in accordance with the user operation.

[0064] The system controller 107 controls the operation of the wholeapparatus, and receives an instruction from the operation unit 108 tocontrol the encoder 102, communication processing unit 109 and the like.By executing a play list editing program, play list data is generatedand updated.

[0065] The decoder 104 receives the image data from the communicationprocessing unit 109, decodes the received image data, and outputs it tothe display unit 105 and display picture generating unit 106.

[0066] In response to a command from the system controller 108, thedisplay picture generating unit 106 generates various pictures to bedisplayed on the display unit 105 and outputs them to the display unit105.

[0067] The system controller 107 switches between the image data to bedisplayed on the display unit 105 in accordance with an instruction fromthe operation unit 108. Specifically, an image supplied from the imagepickup unit 101 during photographing is displayed, an image suppliedfrom the decoder 104 or display picture generating unit 106 duringreproduction is displayed, and an image supplied from the displaypicture generating unit 106 during play list editing is displayed.

[0068] With reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, description will be madeon the processes of the play list editing program to be executed by thesystem controller 107 during editing, on display windows during theprocess and on a user operation procedure.

[0069]FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show examples of a window displayed on thedisplay unit 105 in the editing mode of the image photographingapparatus 210. As described previously, when the editing mode isinstructed by the operation unit 108, a thumbnail image transmissionrequest is sent to the server 240 and the thumbnail image data of thestored image data is received. The received thumbnail image data isstored in a not-shown memory in the communication processing unit 109.Thumbnail list windows shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are generated by thedisplay picture generating unit 106 in accordance with the image datareceived from the server 240 via the communication processing unit 109.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, not only the image list can bedisplayed, but also a transition list and an effect list which can beused during image editing can also be displayed. Switching between theselists can be conducted by using a tab. Switching between tabs anddepression of a button are conducted by using a touch panel. Obviously,buttons on the image photographing apparatus itself or other means camalso be used.

[0071] In addition to the list display, a story board is displayed underthe list display. The story board is widely used in general for imageediting, the contents of the story board corresponding to the contentsof the play list. The story board indicates the order of reproducing theregistered images from the left to right.

[0072] The display screen of the story board is constituted of imageareas where images are registered and transition areas where transitionsare set. The transition area is displayed with various icons for settingthe transition corresponding to the screen switching effect, andpositioned between adjacent image areas.

[0073] Displayed in FIG. 4A is a thumbnail image list of image data. Allthe thumbnail images are displayed for the image data transmitted fromthe image photographing apparatus 210 and stored in the server 240. Whena user selects one of these thumbnail images by using the touch panel,the selected thumbnail image is surrounded by a bold frame indicating aselect state. In this select state, when an “ADD” button lower thanunder the list display is depressed, the thumbnail image in the selectstate is added to the image area of the story board. By repeating theseprocesses, a plurality of thumbnail images can be added to the storyboard. A change in the order of images in the story board is performedby a drag-and-drop operation or the like.

[0074] When a “REPRODUCE” button is depressed in the state that thethumbnail image is selected, the system controller 107 instructs thecommunication processing unit 109 to transmit a reproduction command tothe server 240 so that the server 240 transmits the image datacorresponding to the designated thumbnail image. After the image data istransmitted from the server 240, the system controller 107 controls thedisplay unit 105 to display the image output from the decoder 104 inplace of the editing window shown in FIG. 4A, 4B or 4C.

[0075] By depressing the tab, an effect list window and a transitionlist window can be selected which can be used during editing.

[0076] For example, if the transition list is to be displayed, a tab“TRANSITION” is depressed. In this manner, the transition list capableof being used during editing is displayed. FIG. 4B shows the windowdisplaying the transition list.

[0077] If the transition is to be added to the story board, first thetransition area to be added is selected, and thereafter the transitionis selected from the transition list. When the “ADD” button is depressedthereafter, the transaction can be added to the transaction area of thestory board.

[0078] By depressing the tab, the effect list capable of being usedduring editing can be displayed. When the effect list is to bedisplayed, a tab “EFFECT” is depressed so that the effect list capableof being used during editing is displayed. FIG. 4C shows the windowdisplaying the effect list.

[0079] When the effect is to be added to the image, first an image to beadded with the effect is selected from the images added to the storyboard, and thereafter an effect is selected from the effect list.Thereafter, the “ADD” button is depressed so that the image selected inthe story board can be added with the effect. In order to clearlyindicate that the effect is added to the image added in the story board,the effect is added with the thumbnail image. For example, if amonochromatic effect is added, the display picture generating unit 106monochromatically displays the thumbnail image to be displayed in thestory board. An added effect may be indicated to the user by othermethods.

[0080] By repeating the above-described processes, the user performsimage editing by using the story board. When the image editing work isto be terminated, a user depresses a “SAVE” button to store the editingresults. When the “SAVE” button is depressed, the system controller 107generates a play list for reproducing the image data in accordance withthe procedure matching the contents of the story board. This play listdata is transferred to the server 240 via the communication processingunit 109. The server 240 stores the received play list data in a file.

[0081] Next, the structure of the server 240 will be described.

[0082]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the server 240. Acommunication processing unit 501 transmits and receives image data,various commands and the like via a transmission path. A storage 502stores image data, play list data and the like. A controller 503transfers data to and from each unit via a bus 506. A codec 504 encodesimage data stored in the storage unit 502 and decodes the image data tobe processed by an image processing unit 505. The image processing unit505 performs a process corresponding to each of various processesdesignated by the play list.

[0083] As described earlier, the communication processing unit 501transmits and receives mainly data to and from the image photographingapparatus 210. For example, when the photographed image data istransmitted, this effect is notified to the controller 503 and the imagedata is stored in the storage unit 502. The controller 503 stores thereceived image data along with the additional information such asidentification information of the received image data, in the storageunit 502. The controller 503 controls the image processing unit 505 togenerate the thumbnail image by using the received image data, and thegenerated thumbnail image data is also stored in the storage unit 502together with the original image data and additional information. Uponreception of a reproduction command requesting the thumbnail image dataand play list data from the image photographing apparatus 210, thecommunication processing unit 501 notifies this effect to the controller503. In accordance with this command, the controller 503 reads thedesignated image data or play list data from the storage 502. The readimage data is transmitted to the image photographing apparatus 210 viathe communication processing unit 501.

[0084] If the play list data is designated, the contents of the readplay list data are checked and if the special effect such as transactionand effect is designated, the image data designated by the play list isread from the storage unit 502 and decoded by the codec 504, and thedesignated special effect process is performed at the image processingunit 505. After the codec 504 again encodes the image data, the encodedimage data is transmitted to the image photographing apparatus 210 viathe communication processing unit 501.

[0085] As described above, by using the window layout and the windowoperation method described with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, a usercan easily edit an image and generate play list data by using the imagephotographing apparatus. The above-described embodiment of the inventionis only illustrative, and the play list data may be generated by othermethods.

[0086] In the embodiment, although the effect and transition usableduring editing are preset at the image photographing apparatus, theimage photographing apparatus may acquire the usable effect list fromthe server and display it. Although the image effect includes onlyeffect and transition, other editing functions may be added such as textsetting and trimming.

[0087] Also in this embodiment, although the application for play listediting is possessed by the image photographing apparatus itself, otherconfigurations may be adopted. For example, the server may be a Webapplication server, and the image photographing apparatus (client) maybe a mere Web terminal, to thereby execute a Web application.

[0088] With the above-described configuration, an image editing processand a process of reproducing and displaying edition results can beperformed even by an image recording system in which photographed imagedata is automatically transferred to the server and the image data isnot left in the digital camera itself.

[0089] Since the actual image editing is performed by the server, theclient is required only to generate the play list. The client is nottherefore required to have a high performance. Further, during the imageediting process, the image data is not actually exchanged so that thenetwork load is very small.

[0090] In the above-described embodiment, the server generates thethumbnail image data. The invention is not limited only to this, but theimage photographing apparatus may generate the thumbnail image data andonly this data is recorded in the recording medium M. In this case, therecording and reproducing unit generates the thumbnail image data andthe system controller generates identification data (ID) for identifyingthe image data, reproducing time information and the like and storesthem with reference to the thumbnail image data.

[0091] During the reproduction, the thumbnail image data recorded in therecording medium M is reproduced and the display picture reproducingunit generates a thumbnail image list.

[0092] A user selects a desired thumbnail image from the thumbnail list,and the system controller transmits the reproduction start command forthe image data corresponding to the identification data of the selectedthumbnail image, to the server.

[0093] Also during editing, the window such as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and4C is generated and displayed by using the thumbnail image data recordedin the recording medium M. The image photographing apparatus 210 maygenerate the thumbnail image data of the generated play list.

[0094] The invention is applicable to a system having a plurality ofapparatuses such as a host computer, an interface apparatus, a readerand a printer or to a single apparatus (e.g., a copier, a facsimile orthe like).

[0095] The objects of the invention can be achieved by supplying astorage medium storing software program codes realizing the function ofthe embodiment described above to a system or apparatus and making acomputer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus read and execute theprogram code stored in the storage medium.

[0096] In this case, the software program codes themselves read from thestorage medium realize the embodiment function. Therefore, the programcodes themselves and the storage medium storing the program codesconstitute the present invention.

[0097] The storage medium for supplying such program codes may be a ROM,a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto optical disk, aCD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and thelike.

[0098] The invention also includes the case wherein not only thecomputer executes the read program to realize the embodiment functionbut also an OS (operating system) or the like running on a computerexecutes a portion or the whole of the actual process to realize theembodiment function.

[0099] The invention also includes the case wherein the functions of theembodiment are realized by writing the program codes read from thestorage medium into a memory of a function expansion board inserted intoa computer or of a function expansion unit connected to the computer,and thereafter by making a CPU of the function expansion board orfunction expansion unit execute a portion or the whole of actualprocesses Many widely different embodiments of the present invention maybe constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. It should be understood that the present invention isnot limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing system for processing imagedata between a server and a client apparatus, wherein: said clientapparatus comprises: communication processing means for transmittingsaid image data to said server via a transmission path to make saidimage data be stored in said server and receiving said image data fromsaid server; and control means for generating play list datarepresentative of an order of reproducing said image data, by usingrepresentative image data representative of an representative image ofsaid image data, and transmitting said play list data to said server viasaid communication processing means, and said server comprises atransceiver unit for receiving said image data and said play list datatransmitted from said client apparatus, a generation unit for generatingthe representative image data representative of the representative imageof said received image data and a storage unit for storing said receivedimage data and the representative image data, wherein in response to aninstruction from said client apparatus, said server transmits saidgenerated representative image data to said client apparatus, reproducessaid image data stored in said storage unit in accordance with saidreceived play list data, and transmits the reproduced image data to saidclient apparatus.
 2. An image processing system according to claim 1,wherein said control means generates said play list data designating areproduction order, a reproduction start position, a reproduction endposition, a reproduction display effect and an image transition effectof said image data.
 3. An image processing system according to claim 1,wherein said control means comprises display window generation means forgenerating an editing window by using said received representative imagedata, and wherein said play list data is generated by using said editingwindow and in accordance with a designated reproduction procedure.
 4. Animage processing system according to claim 1, wherein if image datatransmitted from said client apparatus is a still image, said generationunit generates said representative image data by subjecting thetransmitted image data to a reduction process, whereas if thetransmitted image data is a moving image, said generation unit generatessaid representative image data by using a start frame of the movingimage.
 5. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein saidcommunication processing means further transmits metadata includingidentification data identifying said image data, and wherein said serverstores said transmitted image data and said transmitted metadata relatedto said transmitted image data in said storage unit.
 6. An imageprocessing system according to claim 5, wherein said metadata includesrecording time information and image size information of said imagedata.
 7. An image processing system according to claim 6, wherein saididentification data is a file name.
 8. An image processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said communication processing meanstransmits said image data via the Internet.
 9. An image processingsystem according to claim 1, wherein in response to designation of anediting mode said communication processing means transmits atransmission request command for the representative image to saidserver, and in response to the transmission request command, said serverreproduces the representative image data corresponding to said imagedata stored in said storage unit and transmits said reproducedrepresentative image data to said client apparatus.
 10. An imageprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein said generation unitfurther generates representative image data representative of arepresentative image of said received play list data, and wherein saidserver transmits also the representative image data of said play listdata to said client apparatus.
 11. An imaging apparatus for transmittingphotographed image data to a server via a network so as to make saidserver to store said image data and receiving said image data stored insaid server via said network, the imaging apparatus comprising: imagingmeans; communication processing means for transmitting said image dataacquired by said imaging means to said server via said network andreceiving said image data from said server; and control means forgenerating play list data representative of an order of reproducing saidimage data, by using representative image data representative of anrepresentative image of said image data, and transmitting said play listdata to said server via said communication processing means so as toallow said server to reproduce said stored image data in accordance withthe order of reproducing said image data represented by said play listdata, wherein said communication processing means receives said imagedata reproduced in accordance with a reproduction procedure representedby said play list data and transmitted respectively by said server. 12.An imaging apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:recording and reproducing means for generating said representative imagedata by using said image data acquired by said imaging means andrecording/reproducing said representative image data onto/from arecording medium; and display means for generating an editing window byusing said representative image data reproduced from said recordingmedium and displaying the editing window, wherein said control meansgenerates said play list data by using information displayed in saidediting window.
 13. An imaging apparatus according to claim 11, furthercomprising: display means for generating a list window of representativeimages of said image data stored in said server by using saidrepresentative image data and displaying the list window, wherein saidcontrol means controls said communication processing means so as totransmit a reproduction command to said server, said reproductioncommand being used for reproducing said image data corresponding to arepresentative image selected from representative images displayed insaid list window, and wherein in response to said reproduction command,said communication processing means outputs said image data reproducedand transmitted by said server to said display means.
 14. An imagingapparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: generation meansfor generating the representative image data representative of therepresentative image of said image data and representative image datarepresentative of a representative image of said play list data; displaymeans for displaying a list window of the representative image of saidimage data and the representative image of said play list datarespectively stored in said server, in accordance with therepresentative image data generated by said generation means; andselection means for selecting a desired representative image from thedisplayed representative images, wherein said control means furthercontrols said communication processing means to transmit a reproductioncommand corresponding to the representative image selected by saidselection means to said server.
 15. An imaging apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein said communication processing means receives therepresentative image data of said image data stored in said recordingmedium from said server, and said control means generates said play listdata by using said received representative image data.
 16. An imagingapparatus according to claim 15, wherein in response to designation ofan editing mode of said image data from designation means, said controlmeans further controls said communication processing means to transmitsa transmission request command for said representative image data tosaid server, and in response to the transmission request command forsaid representative image data, said communication processing meansreceives said representative image data transmitted from said server.17. An imaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein saidcommunication processing means further receives from said serverrepresentative image data representative of a representative image ofsaid play list data transmitted to said server.
 18. An imaging apparatusaccording to claim 17, further comprising: display means for displayingthe representative image of said image data and the representative imageof said play list data, respectively stored in said server, by usingsaid representative image data received by said communication processingmeans; and selection means for selecting a desired representative imagefrom said displayed representative images, wherein said control meansfurther controls said communication processing means to transmit areproduction command corresponding to the representative image selectedby said selection means to said server.
 19. An imaging apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said communication processing meanstransfers data to and from said server by communicating with a wirelessbase station.
 20. An image processing method of transmitting image datafrom a client apparatus to a server via a network to store said imagedata in said server and receiving and processing said image data storedin said server via said network, wherein: said client apparatus executesthe steps of transmitting said image data to said server via saidnetwork to store said image data in said server, receiving said imagedata from said server, generating play list data indicating an order ofreproducing said image data, by using thumbnail data of said image data,and transmitting said play list data to said server via said network;and said server executes the steps of generating said thumbnail datarepresentative of a thumbnail image of said image data transmitted fromsaid client apparatus, storing said thumbnail data together with saidimage data, in response to an instruction from said client apparatus,reproducing said stored thumbnail data and image data, transmitting saidreproduced thumbnail data and image data to said client apparatus,receiving said play list data transmitted from said client apparatus,reproducing said stored image data in accordance with said received playlist data, and transmitting said reproduced image data to said clientapparatus.